Chapter 14 - The New Foundation|
Six months later.
Spring had arrived in Chicago, painting the lakefront in vibrant shades of green, gold, and white.
The Evanston townhouse had been completely renovated. The gloomy, formal rooms were now filled with light, fresh flowers, and soft music.
Instead of white roses, the marble foyer was filled with bright yellow daffodils and vibrant tulips—a small, beautiful symbol that the dark ghosts of our past had been completely buried.
I sat in my study on a Saturday afternoon, working on a new philanthropic trust established in Alina’s name to support struggling family-owned manufacturing businesses across the Midwest.
The door opened softly.
Alina walked in, wearing a soft pastel blue dress, carrying a silver tray with two cups of coffee.
She set the tray on my desk, leaning down to kiss my lips softly.
I pulled her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her waist, resting my chin against her neck as she laughed softly.
"You're supposed to be reviewing the Q2 financial reports, Dante," she teased gently, tracing her fingers along my jawline.
"The Q2 reports can wait," I murmured, kissing the soft skin beneath her ear. "My Vice Chairwoman is distracting me."
She smiled, leaning her head back against my shoulder, looking at the two coffee cups on the desk.
One black. One with half a teaspoon of brown sugar.
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"Did you know," Alina whispered softly, turning her dark eyes to mine, "that three years ago, I used to sit in the sitting room every Sunday morning, watching you drink that coffee through the glass doors?"
"I know," I smiled, pulling her closer. "Because every Sunday morning, I used to take twenty minutes longer to finish it just so I could watch you read your book."
